Community Groups at Redemption

Purpose & the leaders role
OPENNESS & SEMESTERS
Something we hope to see more and more is newcomers getting connected in Community Groups. For that reason the default plan is to have groups function as "open", meaning they welcome newcomers at any time. However, for a variety of reasons it can be healthy to "close" a group. Please talk with Pastor Dustin if you'd prefer your group to be "closed". 

We will also have three distinct semesters that provide "on ramps" and "off ramps" to provide a way for people to transition naturally into or out of groups. These will be:
September - December
January - March
April - June

If groups are planning to begin a new curriculum at times other than the semester start it will be advertised as a chance for people to get involved.  We hope this will highlight the importance of Community Groups and help newcomers see joining one as a natural part of life at Redemption.

Community Group Leader Resources

Leading a group
Here are some resources provided by other churches to help you grow as a Community Group leader:

From North Point Ministries:
Facilitator Tips
Tips for Leading Well

From Life.Church:
Caring for Your Group (dealing with conflict, difficult people, discipling new believers, and more)
Life Group Basics (maintaining balance as a leader, potential Community Group models, some helpful do's and don'ts)
What A Meeting Can Look Like (and other logistical helps)
Leader Tips and Tricks (much content similar to those above, with extended focus on conflict management in groups and keys to better listening)

Choosing cirriculum
Community Group leaders are allowed to choose their own study material with approval from the Community Group Coach. Groups can study books of the Bible, themes in Scripture, discuss the weekly sermon, or use other gospel-centered curriculum. 

Here is a check-up you can use to gauge where people in your group are at. It can be used to help determine a direction for study, or for the personal/private growth of people in your group:
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Personal Discipleship Check-Up